Knowing how to pamper oneself

Occasionally, you may feel down because life is not rosy all the time. I have been feeling down for some time (God knows how long). Little things add up to my frustration.

Well, to snap out of it, talking with someone helps especially if that person gives you good advice to rethink. Once you think from a different angle, things do not seem so bad after all.

Exercising induces the body to secrete endorphin, the natural feel-good hormone. This evening, I swam hard and fast, keeping my mind from wandering by concentrating on gliding in the water.

Helping someone puts a smile back too. I did stroke corrections with someone who was swimming front crawl with difficulty. He was willing to pay me to teach him but I declined. Instead, I suggested that I could see him once a week to see if he had improved by practising what I had taught him.

I also treated myself to a sumptuous dinner at a restaurant where I could simply eat and pay without preparing the food and washing the dishes.

Life is good to me, I can sleep well tonight.

Practise makes perfect

After my fourth attempt at Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assay, I managed to shave off four hours of handling time with sixteen mice without compromising on the number of viable splenocytes (cells from the spleen). ELISPOT is usually used for monitoring immune responses in humans and animals since I am researching on human flu vaccine.

This record time came with practise where I became familiar with the experiment and by planning ahead. I am looking forward to my result tomorrow.

Conquering the Impossible: My 12,000-Mile Journey Around the Arctic Circle by Mike Horn

My attention was caught by the front cover when I was browsing for a storybook at the Eisenhower Library. It looks very cold to me which reminded me of the past winter.

The author is Mike Horn, a professional adventurer and he was wearing a wolverine hood, which will never freeze even at -70 degree Fahrenheit (-56 degree Celsius).

From this nonfiction, I learnt a lot of vocabulary concerning the Arctic e.g. floe, tundra etc. Also got some tips on how to survive in the cold winter. For example, the human nose often form mucus at very cold temperature and it can be used as a natural moisturizer, as practiced by the Eskimos.

I also wondered why would anyone do such a feat of walking around the Arctic Circle on foot.

Personally, I find stepping out of one's comfort zone is an adventure itself. Different people in their own unique ways seek various options (physical, mental, spiritual) to conquer the impossible. Ultimately, the aim is to better ourselves and know what we are capable of accomplishing, where are the boundaries of our limits and our weaknesses.

Havre de Grace, MD

Havre de Grace, a quaint town with Victorian houses located in Harford County, MD offers a relaxing weekend where one can fish, boat, bird-watch or stroll on a boardwalk along the Susquehanna River which runs into the Chesapeake Bay.

To remind people of the importance of not polluting the Chesapeake Bay, there is a crab painted on the pavement next to a drainage. Protecting the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem helps to sustain the many habitats and wildlife organisms found there, and human activities such as fisheries, tourism etc.

There are many antiques shops lining along the Main street for antique collectors. Since Maryland is famous for making decoys for hunting ducks, there is a Decoy museum.

I found this signboard eye catching which served its purpose. There were two bronze sculptures of kids playing with bars outside MacGregor's Restaurant & Tavern where I had my lunch. The beef sandwich soaked in onion soup was marvelous.

Havre de Grace photos.

Chattering "magpies"

After a hard day of work, you would expect quiet and peace on your ride home. Well, it depends on your luck to avoid noisy and loud "magpies".

These "magpies" were so obnoxious where they had to talked so loud on the shuttle bus as though they were the only passengers on the bus. Their volume was loud even though they were sitting beside one another.

Either they are hard of hearing or they cannot control their volume! I am not interested to hear your conversations, so be civic minded and tone down your voice.

Horse back riding

He-ha, giddyup, rodeo, cowboy...

I fulfilled one of my childhood dreams on last Saturday when I went horse back riding. It was organized by The Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) at Johns Hopkins.

Since I had no car, fellow members were kind to offer a ride to Misty Manor Riding Stable and back.

It is located in southeastern Carroll County, MD and there is no public transport. I arrived late since we could not find the stable. A handler was pushy in asking me to fill up the liability form quickly as the trail ride was beginning soon.

I was expecting some form of training lesson since I had no prior experience. They did (in less one minute). To go left, pull the left rein; go right; pull the right rein; to stop, pull both rein and say, "Hold" and to go forward was to kick except I was not shown how to kick. Lean forward when going uphill and lean backward when going downhill.

Anyway, my horse's name was Heather and she headed straight for the trough for a drink as the weather was hot. Heather was gentle and knew what to do. She moved forward without me kicking her and stopped when there was no space in front. I just sat back and enjoyed the ride and taking pictures. Along the trail, I leaned forward to pat her.

It was fun and refreshing walking in the river on a hot day. Since horses cannot perceived depth, I had to guide her to shallow grounds along the river bed and away from low branches. I also learnt that horses would not move a foot when they urinate, which was why I was behind the group at the river.

She did galloped at certain stretches of the trail which was exhilarating. However, my camera was hitting my back with every stride.

In future, I would like to go for a longer ride and maybe go for riding lessons.

Pictures taken.

Congratulation to my complex relationship friend's wedding

A BIG congratulation to a great couple, Edward and Jade on their marriage on 07-07-07!

Edward is my sergeant in the army, "investor" during my graduate study, godson in faith though I am younger than him and a bosom friend in general.

We were in the same team in army which was how I got to know him. We went through thick and thin during army exercises and had our fair share of funny army tales. After army, we went out often to cycle or explore since both of us like outdoors and were waiting for school to begin. He went to Australia for his degree while I studied locally.

After his overseas studies, he started working while I continued to pursue for a higher degree. He would often treat me to lunch since I was a poor student then. That was how he was also know as my "investor" and I, his "investment". He is thinking that someday when I make it big, I will treat him back.

One day, he asked me if he could attend mass at the church I attended regularly. I guess God was using me as His instrument to be a companion in faith. He was my last godson, I have five.

Jade is a very fine woman who is compatible with Edward. I knew of their courtship from what Edward told me. I am happy for him to find a good wife!

I was there during their engagement ceremony where I volunteered to be their photographer. Jade was "bragging" to her friends that she had a Dr. photographer. Haha...

It is sad that I cannot go back to attend their wedding but I called them on Skype to send my greetings from Baltimore. They were tired after a whole day of activities and Edward was drunk from sabotages because people wanted to get back at him for making them drunk when they were grooms.

So, there might be a truth in the saying, "What goes around, always come back around."

A nauseating experience at the gym

Now that I had recovered from my cough, I have been working out and exercising regularly to de-stress and get the natural high feeling from endorphin.

Yesterday while running on the treadmill, a long-haired guy came and used the treadmill beside me. He was running feverishly and began to perspire. That was when I started to smell a stale, sour foul air enveloping me.

As I was in the middle of my run, I did not wish to change machine. Besides, there was no free machine available. So, I had to put up with the odor.

I tried holding my breath several times but how long can one hold since he was doing aerobic exercise. Next, I tried to swing my towel to move the air away.

In the end, I just focus on running and was glad that my 30-minute run ended.

PS: For those who wish to reduce fats, you must do aerobic exercises (running, swimming, cycling etc) for at least 20 minutes for the body to burn away the excess fats. Usually, I go for 50 minutes. Do gradual increment of time and intensity based on your current health! Go for the long term goal of being healthy and not fast drop in weight only to gain it back more. There is no short cut to health.

Don't need to travel out of Maryland to get stuffs

What stuffs you would ask? Chinese stuffs like Chinese herbs, condiments, tidbits etc.

I went to the AA Supermarket at Security Boulevard on last Saturday with Ao Yang to do grocery. This supermarket is nearer than HMart and sells Chinese products. The prices are cheaper than HMart but the vegetables and fruits are not as fresh as those at HMart. Given that this supermarket just opened a few months ago, hopefully, it can bring in fresher products.

Meanwhile, I do not have to travel to Washington D.C. or New York Chinatowns to get Chinese stuffs now or even Singapore except for ingredients for Singapore dishes. I miss the spicy food of my homeland.

A controvesial novel?

Just read The Secret Magdalene by Ki Longfellow about Mary of Magdala during Jesus' time.

She was depicted in the Bible as a prostitute and a sinner. But in this novel, she was the beloved disciple of Jesus and his close companion.

It tried to follow along the storyline of Jesus but that he did not raise from the dead.

This is a serious contention to the beliefs of many followers of Jesus Christ. Decide for yourself.